TELLS (ON) Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

tells (on)

verb

present tense third-person singular of tell (on)

as in influences

to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response the pressure of final exams is beginning to tell on the students in the dorm

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as in talks

to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities detectives convinced the perpetrators in custody to tell on their associates

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tells (on)

Verb

Reliability also influences the obligations that an AI system must perform following the production of an answer.

— Ethan Stone, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Feel aside, a mattress also influences the look and proportions of your bedroom.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of influences

Verb

Moore still talks to Petersen somewhat regularly, such as during the offseason and before the Apple Cup game against Washington earlier this season — Moore’s Cougars lost 24-10.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
Publicly, Pacific Fusion talks mostly about its future ability to supply electricity, a promise the fusion industry has made for years.

— Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of talks

Verb

As an independent woman of the time, Ware was the subject of gossip, and the treatment of her body shows how social class affects even the honoring of the dead.

— Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
When a savings affects a critical control, explain what changes.

— Aliasgar Dohadwala, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of affects

Verb

Parks and Recreation Director Carl Williams noted that observing the physical impact of the king tides firsthand informs smarter municipal design.

— Joan Murray, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
The statement doesn’t amount to an endorsement, a spokesperson for Caruso said, but instead simply informs people for whom Caruso planned to vote.

— Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of informs

Verb

Gunna somehow returns one of Gauff’s blistering serves into the net to kick off the clip, which impresses the 22-year-old tennis star.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
If Smith impresses in training camp, his non-guaranteed deal could be converted to a standard contract.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of impresses

Verb

The yield that directly impacts the equity market, and the yield that directly impacts borrowing rates for most consumers and even small businesses.

— , CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Your divorce is difficult and disruptive for them as well and can cause workforce turnover that impacts the business.

— Catherine Shanahan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of impacts

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

tells off

tells (on)

telltale

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Style

“Tells (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells%20%28on%29. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tells (on)

verb

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